Lanci could only console Toriyado and wave to the other Great Demon Clan mbers.
"Let's go!"
"We're not locking the doors anymore."
"Tonight, everyone should co to the courtyard to light lanterns and set off fireworks together."
The Great Demon Clan mbers gradually walked out of the mansion from the entrance, bidding their farewells as they left.
The lively dining and guest room fell quiet once again.
Outside the window, the courtyard was blanketed in snow, shimring in its silver-white glory. A towering fir tree stood in the center of the yard, its branches adorned with glistening ice crystals that refracted rainbow-like rays of light.
"Lanci, you're such a freak. How on earth can you focus on working overti when everyone else is out having fun?"
Toriyado gazed at the misty window, his heart full of longing to go outside and enjoy himself.
"Just think of us being at the Protoss Royal Magic Academy. You're the professor, I'm the headmaster, and while the students are on vacation, it's perfectly normal for us to still be working."
Lanci pulled out a chair from the dining table and sat down.
"Where were you yesterday?"
He asked Toriyado about the matter at hand.
"Well, you know how there are still four mbers of the Silvermoon Reform Association whose identities are unknown?"
Toriyado casually placed the photo album he'd brought over from Lanci's house onto the dining table.
"Do you have any leads?"
Lanci's tone gradually beca heavier as he questioned Toriyado.
He had known all along that Toriyado had been trying to identify their allies within the organization these past few days.
Currently, the ones with unknown identities were numbers 4679.
Based on previous communications within the group, Number Four [Blaze] hadn't returned to Brilda last month, among the nine mbers. Number Five [Struggle] was none other than Princess Alexia, Number Six [Loyalty] managed to acquire firsthand intelligence from Saint Kray Monastery regarding magical energy fission, and Number Eight [Purity] remained silent when asked about information on magical energy fission. The silence hinted at evasion and suspicion. Lastly, Number Nine [Hope] could gather any information as long as the money was sufficient, suggesting diverse connections and a wide network.
These five individuals were all associates of the Princess—known to and trusted by Princess Alexia.
Initially, Numbers Four and Five Sacred Communication Magic Cards were created together, both handed over to Princess Alexia by Abigail. The Princess herself used Number Five while entrusting Number Four to her confidant.
Later on, Princess Alexia requested Number Six Sacred Communication Card, gifting it to soone she deed suitable. Then Abigail sent Number Seven through dinsional branch channels to her junior apprentice Landry, while Numbers Eight and Nine—completed last—were also claid by Princess Alexia.
The founding agreent of this organization was that no one would know the identities of all other mbers.
"I tried privately ssaging these four individuals, but given the Princess's precarious situation right now, they completely refused to trust ."
Toriyado patted the photo album on the table, signaling to Lanci that this was the clue.
"It wasn't until yesterday, when I finally prepared everything, disguised myself as a palace attendant, and infiltrated the Imperial Palace. Early this morning, while delivering als, I saw the Princess. Under watchful eyes from mbers of the Blood Clan, the Princess dared not converse with but instead used her gaze to signal to steal her photo album—and so I did."
Toriyado explained to Lanci.
Yesterday, Toriyado had infiltrated the Cerryti Empire's Imperial Palace, where he couldn't even chat much with Lanci due to receiving his Communication Magic.
"You went all the way to the Imperial Palace in Cerryti?"
Lanci, genuinely surprised, exclaid.
The kind of action Toriyado had taken was likely only possible for soone as daring and skilled as Dinsion Bishop Toriyado. If sothing went wrong, he could escape through teleportation, but any failure for others would an certain death.
"I'm sorry I couldn't extract information from Princess Alexia—it's far too dangerous inside the palace."
Toriyado had carefully weighed the risks but opted against recklessly attempting to rescue the Princess.
The decisive battle was near, and if they chose to rescue the Princess right now, the severity of the situation would escalate to a whole empire-wide crisis. Not only would their surprise attack plan on Blood Moon City fail due to alerting the enemy, but it could also incite the War God and Blood Clan's forces to annihilate them—even before the national celebration day arrived.
Aside from obtaining this photo album and confirming Princess Alexia's safety, there were no other gains.
"It's fine; you've achieved a major accomplishnt. You're really a master thief."
Lanci praised him.
Initially, Lanci had thought there'd be no way to locate the Silvermoon Reform Association's allied mbers, but now there was hope to identify one or two of them before the war.
Toriyado was practically the Thief King of Brilda—last ti, he boldly stole from the Empire's Special Operations Departnt. This ti, he even managed to swipe sothing from the Imperial Palace.
When Blood Moon City was heavily assaulted on the decisive day, any critical forces could dramatically shift the balance toward victory.
"I took the album and left the palace—and ca straight to your place. Let's analyze this photo album together."
Toriyado opened the album, placed it between himself and Lanci, and frowned.
"Alright."
Lanci looked closely at the album alongside him.
If Princess Alexia had hinted for Toriyado to take this album, it ant she believed the pictures inside could help Toriyado deduce the potential identities of 4679.
Or at least one of the core mbers of the Silvermoon Reform Association.
The album, with its dark red cover and gilded corners, bore marks of age—as if it had been cherished by Princess Alexia for years.
As Toriyado flipped through the album, the first pages featured photographs of Alexia within the palace.
In the images, the Third Princess was adorned in an ivory-white gown, with a radiant gemstone necklace gracing her neck.
Her silky, chestnut hair gracefully cascaded over her shoulders, as smooth and shiny as satin.
As Toriyado continued turning the pages, the photos collectively painted a picture of Alexia's journey through her growth and various life monts.
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